Pontoon for knockdown rafts.



.l. H. MAXWELL. FONT DON FOR KNOCKDOWN RAFTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, I9X5.

Patented July 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l J. H. MAXWELL.

PONTOON FOR KNOCKDOWN RAFTS.

APPLICATIQN FILED NOV. 26, 1915.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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JAMES H. MAXWELL, OF SEATTLE, VIASHINGTON.

PONTOON FOR KNOCKDOWN RAF'IS.

Application filed November 26, 1815.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMns H. MAXWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pontoons for Knockdown Rafts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in knockdown rafts which are designed to be quickly set up or quickly disassembled for transportation or storage.

The present application is an improvement over the structure shown in my U. S. Patent No. 1,151,115, granted August 24, 1915.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved sectional pontoon for a knockdown life raft.

Vith this general object in view my in vention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will hereinafter be more completely described and claimed and as shown in the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the assembled raft; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of my improved pontoon; Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. A is a detail perspective view of the thimble;

- Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the clamping bands; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the inner ends of the two sections of the pontoon arranged in juxtaposition for assembling.

As shown in Fig. 1 my improved raft comprises a pair of spaced apart sectional pontoons 1 which are held in this spaced apart position by means of transverse brace bars 2 connected by their opposite ends to said pontoons. Additional braces 3 extend longitudinally of the pontoons and connect the brace members 2, and have mounted thereon seat supporting standards 4 which carry a bottom board 5 and a seat board 6 and are supported by suitable guy ropes 7.

The structure thus far described is clearly shown in the patent mentioned above and forms no part of the present invention.

As hereinbefore stated, the pontoons 1 are formed in several sections, said sections be ing held together by my improved means.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Serial No. 63,528.

In the drawing I have shown each of these pontoons as formed of two sections but it is obvious that any number of sections may be employed depending upon the length which it is desired to make the raft. One section 1 is provided with a cylinder 8 which is secured therein and has its ends provided with suitable watertight closures 9. This cylinder is preferably soldered into the end of the section 1 so that said section will be air-tight. The cylinder 8 projects preferably one-half its length beyond the end of section 1 and is adapted to project into the section 1 when the pontoon is assembled. The section 1 has a wall 10 adjacent its end so that it will also be air-tight. This wall is spaced a distance from the end equal to the projecting portion of the cylinder 8. After the sections 1 and 1 have been assembled, that is placed on the cylinder 8, a sleeve or thimble 11 is placed over the adjacent ends of the sections of said thimble and is substantially the length of the cylinder 8 and adapted to surround the sections above said cylinder. A pair of strips 12 are secured to said thimble 11 and are disposed on the outside and bottom of said pontoon when the same is connected in operative position with the rest of the raft. These strips project beyond the edges of the thimble to provide arms 13 upon which clamping bands 14; are adapted to lie. These arms 13 have their ends bent upon themselves and riveted together by the rivets 15 and thus providing seats for holding said bands in operative position.

The bands 14: which surround the sections of the pontoons are preferably formed of spring metal and have their ends bent laterally to form ears 16 which receive the clamping bolts 17. Each of said bands is also flattened at two points as shown at 18. These flattened places 18 are adapted to coact with the seats formed by the arms 13, thus preventing the bands from slipping around said sections. The bands are also provided with crimped portions 18 which form seats to receive rings 19 with which the guy ropes 7 are connected. When the sections of the pontoon are assembled on the cylinder 8 and the thimble placed therearound, the clamping bands are then ready to be tightened. When this has been accomplished the sections of the pontoon will be securely held in operative position and will be prevented from shifting apart.

' connection with the accompanying draw pair of sections thereof, arms projecting From the foregoing description taken in ings it will be seen that I have provided a very much improved collapsible raft provided with an improved sectional pontoon, the whole being very readily disassembled for the purposes of storage or transportation.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a knockdown raft, a sectional pontoon, a cylinder disposed in one section thereof and projecting therefrom and said projecting end of the cylinder being adapted toon, a thiinble surrounding said pontoon and disposed over the adjacent ends of a from the opposite edges of said thimble, and clamping bands surrounding said sections and disposed on saidarms.

4:. In a knockdown raft, a sectional pontoon, athimble surrounding said pontoon,

and disposed over the adjacent ends of a pairof sections thereof, a strip secured to said thimble and projecting beyond the opposite ends thereof, the ends of said strip being bent laterally, and clamping bands surrounding said sections and disposed in the seats formed in said arms.

5. In a knockdown raft, a sectional pontoon, a cylinder disposed in one section thereof and projecting therefrom, said projecting end of the cylinder being adapted to be inserted into the adjacent section of the pontoon, a thimble surrounding said pontoon and disposed over the adjacent ends of the sections, arms projecting from the opposite edges of said thimble, and clamping bands surrounding said sections and disposed over said arms.

6. In a knockdown raft, a sectional pontoon, a cylinder disposed in one section thereof and projecting therefrom, said projecting end of the cylinder being adapted to be inserted into the adjacent section of the pontoon, a thimble surrounding said pontoon and disposed over the adjacent ends of the sections, arms projecting from the opposite edges of said thimble, and clamping bands having flattened portions adapted to co-act with said arms.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES H. MAXWELL.

Witnesses:

RANDOLPH J. MCLEAN, W. B. COOKE.

Copies. of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

